Wildlife Technician III (Habitat Crew Member)

Wildlife

Department of Natural Resources

Hourly Wage: $16.21-$18.59/Regular/Full-Time

The position will require work as a member of the Wildlife Habitat Crew, assisting the Wildlife Program's efforts to enhance wildlife lands in the valley portion of the Yakama Reservation. The position is responsible for carrying out various wetland and upland habitat management activities, as well as assisting with infrastructure repair and restoration projects. The position will involve the operation and maintenance of agricultural equipment, heavy machinery, and hand tools. Incumbent participates in activities that require occasional coordination with other Yakama Nation Programs, governmental agencies, private contractors, and general public Yakama and non-Yakama Tribal members. This position will work closely with the rest of the Habitat Crew and other Wildlife Program staff, but will still be expected to work independently at times, including navigating to remote field locations.

Examples of Work Performed:

• Performs habitat management activities under the direction of the Habitat Crew Lead and other Wildlife staff - these will include invasive species control, upland and wetland restoration tasks such plantings, and maintenance of water control structures and conveyance channels.
• Installs and repairs barbed wire, wildlife-friendly, and buck-and-pole fences.
• Applies herbicides using specified rates and methods and reports herbicide use in written form and using maps and/or digital recording tools.
• Operates and helps maintain a wide variety of farming and ranching equipment including tractors, farm machinery (seed drills, discs, plows, sprayers, mowers, harrows, packers).
• Cleans and maintains storage, equipment, and work facilities used by the habitat crew.
• Gathers and loads dirt and waste products from job sites onto trucks and transports to appropriate location; collects and hauls garbage, debris, dirt, sand, and gravel.
• Fills out equipment use and other applicable logs and records accurately & completely.
• Is responsible for own compliance with safe work practices and procedures associated with the operation of equipment used in daily performance of duties.
• Ensures Wildlife properties are secure by posting signage, replacing locks, fixing gates and fences, etc. as needed.
• Assists the bison program in haying, winter feeding, butchering, and other tasks as needed.
• Assists the Game Bird Biologist and other Wildlife staff in conducting hunter-success surveys and other wildlife surveys or monitoring tasks.
• May be asked to assist with trapping and removing problem wildlife.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work outdoors in a variety of difficult climatic conditions.
• Demonstrated experience with operation and maintenance of farm equipment (tractors, etc.) and large four-wheel drive trucks and other vehicles.
• Experience using hand tools (shovels, loppers, etc.) and powered hand equipment (pumps, weedwackers, etc.).
• Working knowledge of land management, farming, and ranching practices such as fencing and herbicide application using hand or mounted sprayers.
• Ability to perform a wide variety of manual tasks for extended periods in various weather conditions, including sunny and hot weather, and cold and/or wet weather.
• Ability to work independently and productively.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions, and to communicate clearly with supervisors and the public.
• Knowledge of Yakama Nation Law and Order code, Wildlife Code.
• Knowledge of the Yakama Nation Treaty of 1855.

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  Ability to work well in a team with personnel of different experience levels and backgrounds.
• Ability to uphold the Personnel policies of the Yakama Nation.

Minimum Requirements:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Incumbent must maintain physical fitness as appropriate to perform assigned duties.
• Incumbent must maintain effective audio and visual discrimination and perception to the degree necessary for successful performance of assigned duties.
• Incumbent may sometimes be required to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Must possess a valid Washington State Driver's License with the ability to obtain a Yakama Nation Driving permit.
• Required to pass a pre-employment drug test.
• Enrolled Yakama Preference, but all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

Preferred Requirements:

• Incumbent will be required to apply herbicides as part of this position - possession of or the ability to attain a WA State Pesticide License is preferred.
• Incumbent will be required to operate farm equipment such as tractors and mowers - previous experience operating similar types of equipment is preferred.
• Ability to obtain a wildland firefighter 'red card' is preferred.
• Ability to obtain (or current possession of) a Class A Commercial Driver's License preferred

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS: The Yakama Nation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT DRUG TEST: Is required for Pre-Employment with the Yakama Nation. During employment, tribal employees are also subject to random testing (YN Personnel Policy Manual, Chapter 2.9.6, Section (a), (g), Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace Policy).

TRAINEE: The Yakama Nation reserves the right to practice Indian Preference by selecting an Indian applicant as a trainee at a reduced pay rate than announced. A training plan is developed to assist employee to reach required qualification requirements and performance level. After completing training plan, work performance will be evaluated. Upon satisfying qualification requirements, employee will obtain entry level pay.

INDIAN PREFERENCE: In efforts to practice Self-Determination, the Yakama Nation grants Indian Preference for employment, promotions, and transfers to its employees and qualified applicants as appropriate. This may limit career opportunities for non-Indian applicants and candidates.

Preference for employment will be granted to qualified individuals meeting minimal qualification criteria in the following order pursuant to the YN Personnel Policy Manual Section 2.1.3:

• 10-points= Enrolled member of Yakama Nation.
• 8-points= Indian (enrolled) spouse of an enrolled Yakama member.
• 6-points= Other Indian (member of a federally recognized tribe).
• 8-points= Indian (enrolled) descendant of enrolled Yakama member.
• 2-points= Non-Indian spouse of an enrolled Yakama member.
• 0-points= Non-Indian.

Personnel Policy Manual Section 2.1.4:

• Positions funded under non-638 federal funding: 8-points= Indian (member of a federally recognized tribe).

VETERAN PREFERENCE: Is pursuant to Section 402 of the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. For verification, must provide a copy of honorable DD-214.

Application points using the weighted point factor system: Disabled Veterans receive 10 points; All other Veteran's receive 5 points.

IMMIGRATION: If selected for employment with the Yakama Nation, you will be required to provide documentation stating you are authorized to work in the United States.

SELECTIVE SERVICE: All males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service. To our knowledge, you may sign up at the U.S. Postal Service in your local area.

TO APPLY: https://yakama.isolvedhire.com/ Yakama Nation Human Resources, P. O. BOX 151, Toppenish WA 98948.

Phone: (509) 865-5121, X4387, X4833. Fax: (509) 865-8777 email: ynapplications@yakama.com

If you are mailing or faxing application, please state Job Announcement No. on your cover sheet.

Questions, please call the YN Human Resource Office.